Daily Covid-19 case numbers will reach 1,200 today, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has told the Seanad.
He was addressing the Upper House before it passed laws to allow for the re-opening of indoor hospitality while restricting access to those who have been fully vaccinated, have recovered from Covid-19 and some children and staff.
The Health Amendment No 2 Bill was passed in a roll call vote by 39 votes to seven, meaning it has passed all stages of the Oireachtas and now requires the signature of President Michael D Higgins before becoming law.He said the infection rate for the 16-to-18 year old group is now at the same as at the peak in the October wave "and the line is vertical in the page".
Minister Donnelly said the numbers in hospital have doubled in the past three weeks and will continue to double. He said there's an expectation of over 200 people in intensive care in a few month's time, and talks are beginning in his Department about building extra surge capacity. He said there are a number of unknowns, but the range for fatalities is between 335 and 1,760 people, "put that in context, in the War of independence 2,300 people died," he said.
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